Patients were included in the study one day after administration when prolonged sedation and ventilation were expected. They were divided into intervention (n=7) and control (n=14) groups. For the intervention group, an intermittent neuromuscular electrical stimulation was applied daily for 30 minutes on the right thigh whereas the left thigh was used as a control. Heart rate, respiration rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and oxygen saturation were monitored before, during and after the electrostimulation. Perimeter of the right and left thighs was measured in both groups every 3 days at 5 cm above the upper edge of the kneecap.